Nipple-wrench.



No. 664,244. y Patented nec. la, loo.

w. EARL. r

NIPPLE WRENCH.

(Application me@ may 4, 1 soo.) (N o M o d e I m: wams PETERS co,Puoiolxruo, wAsNlNsroN. u c.

v NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLARD EARL, OF ONTARIO CENTRE, NEW YORK.

NIPPLE-WRENCH.

SPECI'FCAT'IEON f'fori'ning part of Letters Patent No. 664,244, dated.December 1s, 1900.

Application inea May 4. 1900. sei-iai No. 15,472. (No man.)

TOHUJZZ whom, t ntcty concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD EARL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ontario Centre, in the county of Wayne and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Nipple -Wrenches, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to nipple-wrenches, and has for its object toproduce a device of this kind which shall be simple, cheap, andefficient; and it consists in the improved con struction and novelarrangement of parts of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully setforth.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference-numeralsindicate corresponding parts, Figure lis a perspective view of myimproved nipple-wrench. Fig, 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of thesame, and Fig. 3 is an end view.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,l indicates the main portionof my clamp, which is formed substantially U -shaped from a fiat pieceof steel or suitable material. The free end of each of the legs 2 isbent inwardly to form a jaw 3, onel of which is recessed from near thecenter to the end, the inner end of the recess being preferably slightlyshouldered and the bottom of the recess 4 being inclined, as shown at 4,so that when the straight portions are in contact with each other theremaining portion of the jaws will form a substantially V-shaped recesswhich is adapted to engage with the nipple and hold the same againstrotation.

The bent or bottom portion of the device is preferably cutaway upon oneside, as shown at 5, substantially to the depth of the recessedport-ions 4 at the opposite end of the wrench. Two winged edges projectupwardly at the curve of the wrench at a slight distance from eachother, between which is seated the spoke of the wheel when the wrench isin position. The wings may be formed integral with the main portion ofthe wrench, or they may be formed from a separate piece of material 7,which is slitted longitudinally at one end and has its central portionbent from between the Wings and doubled upon the remaining portion, soas to engage with the wrench at the bend and hold the wings in position.

Each of the legs is provided with a perfon ration 8 near -its free end,through which is passed a bolt 9, one end of which is rigidly secured toone of the legsas, for instance', by means of a jam-nut lO-and the endwhich projects through the other leg is provided with a winged nut 11.The outer portions of the wings may be joined together at a suitabledistance from the nut proper, so as to form a stop to engage with theouter end of the bolt and limit its further movement, thereby preventingthe nut from being screwed in so far as to damage the jaws of the wrenchor the legs by screwing the nut in too far.

In using my improved nipple-wrench the jaws are opened a sufcientdistance to engage with the nipple by unscrewing the winged nut, afterwhich the recessed portions of the jaws are caused to clamp the nipplebetween them by screwing up the winged nut against the leg. By makingthe recess V-shaped the Wrench can be more easily entered upon thenipple, and it may be adapted for use upon nipples of different sizes.When it has been secured in position in this manner, the spoke willextend between the wings and hold the wrench in proper position upon thenipple. After the wrench has been thus secured in position the screwthrough the tire may be -manipulated in the ordinary manner and thewheel turned around to determine the proper adjustment of the tirewithout removing the wrench. As soon as a spoke has thus been adjustedthe wrench can be readily removed by unscrewing the winged nut, when theelasticity of the bend will automatically open the jaws and permit theremoval of the wrench and place it in condition for insertion uponanother spoke.

Although I have shown what I consider to be the most desirable form ofconstructing my improved nipple-wrench, yet I reserve to myself theright to make such changes and alterations therein as will come withinthe scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a nipple-Wrench for bicycles, the combination with a substantiallyU -shaped body, the free end of each leg of which is bent inward andrecessed at one end, and the bent portion o f the body is recessed, andmeans IOO for forcing the recessed ends of the legs toward each other,substantially as described.

2. In a nipple-Wrench for bicycles, the combination, with asubstantially U-shaped body portion, the free end of each leg of whichis bent inward to form jaws, the inner edge ofy each jaw at one endbeing provided with an inclined bottomed recess, and the bent portion ofthe body is provided with a recess to correspond therewith, and a boltfor engaging with said legs and forcing the jaws toward each other,substantially as described.

3. In a nipple-wrench for bicycles, the coinbination, with asubstantially U -shaped body, the free end of each leg of which isperforated and bent inward to forni a jaw, the inner edge of each jaw atone end being recessed, and the bent portion of the body being recessedto correspond therewith, of a bolt secured in the perforation of one ofthe legs and projecting through the perforation of the other leg, and aWinged nut upon the projecting portion of said bolt, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a nipple-wrench for bicycles, the combination, with asubstantiallyU-shaped body, the free ends of the legs of which are provided withcoacting recessed jaws, and the bent portion of the body is cut away andprovided with two parallel wings at a distance from each other to form arecess therebetween, and a bolt through the free ends of the legs formoving the jaws toward each other, substantially as described.

WILLARD EARL.

Witnesses:

D. A. CASEY, JACOB THOMAS.

